New North Mason precinct office opens in Belfair

Former Mason County Sheriff Steve Whybark speaks at Saturday's opening of the new Belfair sheriff's office precinct, which is named in his honor. With him is his wife, Lori Whybark.
(Arla Shephard / Special to the Kitsap Sun)

BELFAIR — The new North Precinct office of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, now known as the Sheriff Steve Whybark Public Safety Building, opened Saturday with a dedication ceremony.

“After many years of working out of many facilities and offices, the Sheriff’s Office has a full-time place in the north end,” Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury said. “We’re all very proud of this precinct and believe it’ll meet the needs of the foreseeable future.”

Salisbury also thanked the Krueger and Byerly families for providing space for temporary Belfair-area substations over the years.

Every sheriff has made it a goal to have an established presence in North Mason, Salisbury said, and “I’m really fortunate to be the sheriff when this came about. ... It isn’t just mine.”

Whybark, Mason sheriff from 1995 to 2007, increased the presence of the Sheriff’s Office in North Mason with the creation of the first Belfair substation in 1998, said longtime volunteer John Wiechert.

“In early 1998, Sheriff Whybark put together a crew of six volunteers to start a means for the people of the North Mason area to have a place to go for a number of things,” Wiechert said. “The office was open two to three days a week. We are now open five days a week, with a half day on Saturday and we have 19 volunteers.”

At Saturday’s ceremony, Whybark shared stories about his years as sheriff and thanked his staff and volunteers.

“The volunteers are the people who actually run this county anyway,” he said. “That’s why I’m so proud to see this continuing to go on.”

At the new North Precinct building at 23293 Highway 3, Chief Criminal Deputy Ryan Spurling will supervise two sergeants, two corporals and deputies assigned to the north end of the county.

The precinct also will have evidence storage, access to records and space for briefing and training sessions, as well as an interview room for victims.

“Not every office has just one person doing everything,” said Whybark, who lives with wife Lori in Kitsap County. “I had a staff that really made this place percolate. ... I appreciate very much this honor.”